Michelangelo Signorile is unimpressed: "A cocktail party? No, that's not business—it's schmoozing and sucking up, and it's all about buying off gay leaders by seducing them, very cheaply, so the White House can help get the money coming back in, since the DNC gay fundraiser for next week is collapsing. The response so far has only been about the money and it's not nearly enough.
What we need now is real action. Not these crumbs, whether it be the census inclusion or some benefits for federal employees. We need something big, and until then, the DNC fundraisers should continue to be threatened, and nobody among the gay leadership should be partying with this president."

Jonathan Capehart, the Washington Post editorial writer, who incidentally is a black gay man, criticizes activists and suggests anger and action should be re-diected toward Cappitol Hill: "If gays and lesbians want big victories, such as the repeal of DOMA and the "don't ask don't tell" policy, they should focus their fire where it belongs: on Congress. Each bill will take 218 votes in the House and 60 in the Senate to reach the president's desk, and the votes aren't there yet. Saying no one is going to hand gay men and lesbians their rights, [OPM Director John] Berry told me, 'We have to get out there and fight and get those votes.' "

In a delicious essay that invokes Malcolm X's famous comparison of "house" slaves and "field" slaves, Pam Spaulding slams Capehart: "No one said Congress shouldn't be held accountable. Where does it get its cues from—the White House. Come on, we're not
stupid. It's also confusing as to what Capehart's role is here—is he
speaking as a gay man writing in his capacity as a reporter for the
WaPo? Or speaking as a prominent member
of the LGBT community? The line is very blurry.... At least we're clear and honest about our advocacy and what we are representing."

Author, activist and pastor Rev. Kevin E. Taylor is similarly disgusted at the idea of canapes in the West Wing. Taylor asks: "Will they
be flying in Janet and Beyonce; Liza and Patti Lupone; Lady GaGa and
some other pseudo diva to insure that we are properly distracted?"

We don't need any schmoozing at all. No canapes, no champagne no finger food. We need a time line and the Congress to get on the ball. And the White House to tell Congress to get on the bal!

Oh and where did this 60 VOTE meme begin? So now every Senate vote needs a 60 vote supermajority for cloture? WTF is Harry Reid doing, its his majority, senators cant filibuster everything...and saying that raises the bar and puts all the responsibility on us and congress.

So much for being a "fierce advocate", make a damn call or two, get something from these damn Republicans you cater to every day and night!

The house Negro could afford to do that because he lived better than the field Negro. He ate better, he dressed better, and he lived in a better house. He lived right up next to his master - in the attic or the basement. He ate the same food his master ate and wore his same clothes. And he could talk just like his master - good diction. And he loved his master more than his master loved himself. That's why he didn't want his master hurt. If the master got sick, he'd say, "What's the matter, boss, we sick?" When the master's house caught afire, he'd try and put the fire out. He didn't want his master's house burned. He never wanted his master's property threatened. And he was more defensive of it than the master was.

That was the house Negro. But then you had some field Negroes, who lived in huts, had nothing to lose. They wore the worst kind of clothes. They ate the worst food. And they caught hell. They felt the sting of the lash. They hated their master. Oh yes, they did. If the master got sick, they'd pray that the master died. If the master's house caught afire, they'd pray for a strong wind to come along. This was the difference between the two.

And today you still have house Negroes and field Negroes. I'm a field Negro.

-------

OKAY!!!! This is TRUTH!
We might have a black man in the White House but baby its the same ole script, field negroes vs house negroes. And whatbis so funny is that all the black folks in Chicago used to accuse Obama of being a house negro ... now, he has fooled everyone and all the black folks now say if you disagree with him, you are trying to be "house." This is craziness, even crazier than that Craigslist hustler's video.

Why are these gays and even more importantly black gays alllowing themselves to be paralyzed against fighting for their rights?

That is exactly what is so F'ING hilarious (and sad) about all this. Much of the black conservative church community in Chicago HATED Barack Obama. I still can't get used to all this Obama love in the black community.

Don't get me started, man. We could write a book between us called "Bamboozled". We are from Chitown and know the real deal.

(pause)

I wish the gay activists best of luck on pressing for our demands. But he is a smooth talker, our President. I admire the man but have seen up close how he will run a Chevy Suburban (in reverse!) over anyone in his way!

This doesn't impress me at all.
And that Mr. Jonathan Capehart...he lives very removed from the rest of us. He has a great job, money in the bank, benefits for his partner..they are gonna trot out their house so called negro to tell folks to calm down.

This is how Obama does damage control. Remember when he invited Repubs over for the Super Bowl and other events? Remember how that blew up in his face when the stimulus passed with zero Repub support in the house and then three Senators held it hostage? Certainly party planning is not his forte.

@RevKev-- you are so right! But I see you did not mention Patti LaBelle, Whitney, or Ms. Ross. (We both know the children would *certainly* be distracted by them!)

A White House shindig held exclusively for "A-list gays" will not necessarily enlighten the Obama administration about the true mood of the LGBT community on recent developments. President Obama will not learn of our ire over the DOMA and DADT briefs, or the continuing support of "civil unions" vs. gay marriage which has been his position since before the election. The only way the White House will become aware of how much it has alienated our community (and gays and lesbians of color in particular), is to hear from us as a voting bloc.

I hope things change for the better vis-a-vis the WH and LGBT rights. Cocktail parties for the "A-list" isn't even "appeasement", it's just sad.